Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind…

Randomized trialBritish journal of anaesthesia· Jan 2026

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Chong Lei, Ziyu Zheng, Jiange Han … Hailong Dong

Sedation & Anesthetic PharmacologyRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 5.1

Dexmedetomidine did not reduce major complications after cardiopulmonary bypass cardiac surgery.

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Chong Lei … Hailong Dong

British journal of anaesthesia · Jan 2026 · Q1 in Anesthesiology

Background

Organ dysfunction after cardiac surgery may be reduced by dexmedetomidine.

Methods

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in nine Chinese hospitals, adults scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly assigned to receive i.v. dexmedetomidine (0.4 μg kg -1 h -1 ) or saline (placebo) for 12 h after the induction of anaesthesia.

n = 1073 participants

Results

no clear difference in major complications with dexmedetomidine

RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.21)

null 1

0.72

1.21

CI crosses the null - not significant

More results

A total of 1073 participants (46% female; mean age: 54 yr [range: 47-63 yr]) completed the study after randomisation.

In addition, 10/536 (1.9%) participants who received dexmedetomidine died in hospital, compared with 15/537 (2.8%) participants who received saline (odds ratio: 0.66 [95% confidence interval: 0.29-1.49]; P=0.32).

More results

Major complications, other than heart block, did not differ between participants who received dexmedetomidine, compared with participants who received saline.

Safety outcomes and process measures did not differ between participants allocated to dexmedetomidine or saline.

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Conclusion

Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine did not reduce death, complications, or both in adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted cardiac surgery.

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery (DOCS): a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

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